Microsoft Stream (on SharePoint) is a University of Toronto platform available for hosting, captioning, and sharing videos recordings.
Special Notes
U of T Stream Classic Retirement
Microsoft Stream Classic was retired for U of T on May 6, 2024 and the University of Toronto community was asked to migrate their videos to an updated version on OneDrive or SharePoint. The process for migration was documented on the EASI Stream Classic Retirement page. For anyone who requested migration from EASI (for 30+ videos), an automatic redirect link was created for each video, due to expire on February 15, 2025. If you a) Requested migration and b) have any links within a Quercus course or a web page, those links will stop working as of Feb. 15. Please consult the menu about for instructions on updating links that are part of your course, either as links within modules or links that have been added via the Rich Text Editor into a page.
Most tools in the Academic Toolbox can assist in both online and face-to-face courses. Many tools can provide benefits in either synchronous or asynchronous teaching. Some tools have been primarily designed for one format or another (synchronous/asynchronous), however, may be adapted for any format depending on your pedagogical goals.
Microsoft transitioned to a newer version of Stream that is better integrated with the rest of the Office365 suite of tools in May, 2024. The earlier version of Stream is known as Microsoft Stream (Classic), and the new version is known as Microsoft Stream (built on SharePoint) or Stream (on SharePoint). The main difference is that the new Stream (on SharePoint) will leverage the power of SharePoint and OneDrive to improve video management regarding permissions, sharing and governance.
How to update links: Video Links shared in Modules
Use these instructions if you added Stream Classic video links to Modules using the External Links
After migration of videos from Stream Classic to new Stream (on SharePoint or OneDrive) videos that have been migrated will open through a redirect link in the new Stream location (SharePoint or OneDrive). You will have until February 15, 2025 to update any links that are shared on Quercus or an external site. After this date, links that have not been updated will not work.
To check if you need to update a link
Go to your Quercus course and select Modules. Locate a Module with videos.
Click on the vertical ellipsis (three-dot menu) beside a video name. (3)
Select Edit.
If the Link has the pattern: https://web.microsoftstream.com it will need to be updated.
Update the Link
Log in to your Quercus course and scroll down to the Module with videos that have been inserted as external links.
Click on a Video name to open a new screen. Then click again on the video link at the top of the page.
Videos that have been migrated will open through a redirect link in the new Stream on SharePoint or OneDrive location.
Select Share and click on Copy Link to save the location.
Go back to your Quercus Course (1) and locate modules with the same video link (2).
Click on the vertical ellipsis (three-dot menu) beside the video name. (3)
Select Edit.
Replace the link in the URL field with the updated link to OneDrive or SharePoint.
Click Update.
Test the link to ensure that it goes to the correct location.
TIPS
Keep a list of all your videos so you can track what has been updated.
If you have many videos, start updating now so you’re not caught at the last minute. If you don’t update the links by February 15, 2025 students will not be able to access your videos as the redirect links will stop working.
How to update links: b) Video links in a Page using the Rich Content Editor
How to update links: Video Links shared on a Page using the Rich Content Editor
Use these instructions if you added Stream Classic video links links to a Quercus Page using the Rich Content Editor. (See previous item for links added in a Module using the External Tool)
After migration of videos from Stream Classic to new Stream (on SharePoint or OneDrive) videos that have been migrated will open through a redirect link in the new Stream location (SharePoint or OneDrive). You will have until February 15, 2025 to update any links that are shared on Quercus or an external site. After this date, links that have not been updated will not work.
To check if you need to update a link
Go to your Quercus course and select a page with a video link.
When you hover your mouse pointer over a hyperlink, the URL (web address) of the link is displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the browser window. This allows you to see the destination of the link.
If the Link has the pattern: https://web.microsoftstream.com it will need to be updated.
How to Update the Link
Open your Quercus course and go to the page with the inserted video.
Click on the link. The link will redirect to the migrated location.
Select Share and click on Copy Link to save the location.
Open your Quercus course page and select Edit.
Click on the link you want to update. Select Link Options.
Under Link, paste in the new link.
Save your page.
Test the link to ensure that it goes to the correct location.
After February 15, 2024
Your redirect links will no longer work. You will need to locate the copies of your migrated videos within your OneDrive or SharePoint to obtain the links.
Access videos by clicking on the Microsoft App (waffle) at the top of Outlook and selecting either Stream (best option for a video) or OneDrive.
Select a video that you have shared on Quercus. Find your videos in Stream quickly by clicking on the Created by Me button above the videos.
You can also select the List View icon on the right-hand side of the page to see the owner. Note that an Owner has full sharing permissions; however, a video created by another user may have restrictions.
Upload Videos to MS Stream
Upload Videos to MS Stream (on SharePoint)
Access MS Stream (SharePoint) from your O365 apps (if updated to the new version) or via https://web.microsoftstream.com () Another way to find your video on OneDrive is to go to your Files > Documents > Recordings.
To create a video, select one of the options under Create new: Upload, Screen recording, or Camera Recording.
To upload a video from your computer:
Browse your computer to select and upload a video.
You will see a message that Upload is in Progress.
Depending on the length of your upload it might take a while to see the recording in the list below.
Create a Screen Recording
To create a screen recording:
Select the Screen recording option.
Include your image from a webcam or click X to close it. You can resize and move the image.
Select the Teleprompter icon to view text that is either typed or pasted from another source.
Select the Start screen recording box and choose your screen, window, or tab as a background.
If you only want to show yourself on the screen (for example, welcoming students to your course), select the Video option. You can also record yourself by selecting Camera recording in the first options.
If you want to record audio only, then choose the Audio option. Files save with a suffix of .webm.
Select Share at the bottom of the selection box.
Record your video after the sound of 3 beeps.
Note: If you have the option, use two monitors, one for your background and one for the Screen recording interface and transcript. If you have one monitor, you can toggle between the tabs using the View tab link at the top of the page.
To stop recording, select the red box Stop Recording icon.
Review you video, trim from start or end of video, add music. Note that Microsoft is working on a way to trim sections of video from the middle).
Select Finish to complete and save your recording.
Add Video Information including a description, chapters, and captions
Add video information
Find a video on your Stream page.
Open the video by selecting the title or the arrow icon beside the name.
Open Video Settings in the side panel to add a description, chapters, and captions and other options.
Options:
Thumbnail – choose a thumbnail image
About video – display a description of the video. To add the description, turn on this setting, then click below the video in description box. Select the checkmark when done.
Transcript and captions – Open this section by selecting the drop-down arrow. Select Generate to automatically generate captions. If you already have a captions file (.vtt) then you can upload it. Note that processing may take up to 48 hours. You should see a message during processing indicating how much time is left on generating the transcript and captions.
Chapters – Open this section by selecting the drop-down arrow. Use the slider bar to turn on chapters. Select the link to go to Chapters in the Settings menu. During video playback select + New Chapter to create chapters. You can adjust the time stamps.
Selecting a chapter will take you to that location in a video. You can also hover over the chapter to see a Share icon that will allow you to share that specific point in the video. Edit or delete chapters by selecting the … more button.
Interactivity – add callouts (coloured text boxes) or create/link Microsoft Forms. See next section for instructions. Turn on using slider bar.
Comments – enable viewer comments by turning on the slider bar.
Analytics – enable analytics by turning on the slider bar. View analytics by selecting them from the main menu sidebar.
Noise Suppression – enable this setting to help viewers isolate speech from ambient noise, music, and other sounds. This setting can also be controlled by the viewer.
Audio files – upload an existing audio file.
NEW: Interactivity Feature - Callout
Interactivity – Callouts
Select Interactivity in the Settings Menu.
Play the video, pausing where you would like to call attention through a coloured text box. Pause.
Select + Add new and choose Add callout.
In the drop-down menu select the style (colour).
Adjust the timing of the callout.
The callout box appears directly on top of the video. It can be resized and moved.
Select the checkmark beside the time stamp to accept the new callout.
NEW: Interactivity Feature - MS Forms (Updated)
Interactivity – Forms
Microsoft forms allows you to embed a quiz or collect feedback to a video.
Select Interactivity in the Settings Menu.
Play the video, pausing where you would add a Form. Pause the video
Select + Add new and choose Add form.
Select the link: Go to Microsoft Form to find the form you want to embed. You can also create a new one by selecting New Quiz or New Form.
Open the Form and select Collect responses from the top menu. Adjust settings as needed. (We recommend always checking Record name).
Choose Copy link.
Return to the video and paste the Form link into the Interactivity section.
Select the checkmark to accept the changes.
Use the link at the side of the video to return to video: Continue to video. We recommend showing students how to navigate the interactive Form.
NEW: Trim a Video
Trim a Video
Notes:
Microsoft is rolling out this feature as of June 2024. If you don’t currently see the option, you should be able to use it in the near future.
Currently, you can only trim (hide) 5 parts of your video with Stream’s trim.
Trim doesn’t modify the actual video file. The full video is available to those that have edit access and when the video is downloaded. In addition, the sections of the transcript and chapters that have been trimmed are still available to Microsoft Search and Copilot.
To trim a video:
Select Video Settings from the side menu
Select the Trim icon (scissors) at the top of the panel.
In the Trim start and end section of the pane, select the pencil icon to edit the video’s start and end time, if the fields aren’t already editable.
On the video player, drag the trim handles to set where the video should start an where it should end. You can also edit the times directly in the trim panel. The part to be trimmed will appear as dashed lines.
To complete the trim, select the check mark in the trim panel.
Cut from the Middle of a Video
In the Cut from the middle section, select + New cut, to hide middle parts of the video
You can only cut from the middle when the video’s play head isn’t already inside or too close to a previous cut or trim
On the video player, drag the cut handles on the video timeline to set the cut’s start and end time. You can also change the cut start and end times directly in the trim panel.
To complete the trim, select the check mark in the trim panel.
MS Stream (on SharePoint) has the same sharing permissions as other files in OneDrive / SharePoint.
Share from the File Menu
Hover over a file name within the file list. A Share icon will pop up. It can also be found in the … More menu.
Share via Email or in Teams. You can also copy the link to share where needed, such as in Quercus.
In the sharing options, you can choose the audience for your video. You will see the standard OneDrive/SharePoint options of View or Edit for:
Anyone
People in University of Toronto
People with existing access
People you chose.
You can also block the ability to download a video by selecting that option.
Share using the </> Embed code option
One of the share options is to copy the Embed code. This option will require the viewer to be already logged into their university Microsoft 365 account in their web browser to view the video. We recommend also including the direct share link when using the embed code, to provide a second access point for your students in the event the embed code access does not work for them. Consult How to embed a new Stream video to Quercus (or any 3rd party platform) to learn more.
Related Links
Refer to Captioning Videos to learn more about generating and editing captions.